Stock and die lubricator



Jan. 13, 1942.

J. R. HAEFFNE R STOCK AND DIE LUBRICATOR Filed April 2', 1941 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE,

This invention relates to lubricating devices and more particularly to stock and, die lubricators.

At the present time in the use of pipe threading stocks and dies, and cutters of the hand operated type in the operation of cutting'the thread or pipe, it is the practice for theoperator to periodically stop and oil the pipe and dies with a common oil can in order to assist in the cutting of the threads and to provide a smooth thread. It is an object of thi invention to provide an automatically operable oiling means for the dies, cutters and the pipe which will periodically oil the pipe between the dies or the cutter as the device is rotated during the thread or pipe cutting operation so as to thereby eliminate the necessity of stopping the die or cutter structure and manually oiling the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of this kind which may be formed'in one or more of the handles of the stock and which will forcibly eject a small quantityof lubricant or cutting fluid onto the worka the threading or cutting operation progresses.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lubricator of this kind wherein the lubricator is set in operation upon raising one of the operating handles for the stock, the oil ejecting means operating by gravity to forcibly eject a small quantity of lubricant or cutting fluid onto the work during each revolution of the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein one or more of the handles for the stock constitutes a lubricant reservoir in addition to a lubricant or cutting fluid ejector which is normally in closed position, but which is adapted to eject or pump asmall quantity of liquid onto the work as the threading operation progresses.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly broken away, and in detail, of a thread cutting stock and die having a lubricator constructed according to an embodiment of this invention formed in one of the stock handles; 4

:;;Figure 2 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3.-3 of Figure 1;

V Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the lubricator removed from the stock;

Figure 5 is a detail side elevational view of the 'flu'id ejector or plunger; and

- Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-1-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing the numeral I0 designates generally a die stock within which a pair -of thread cutting dies II are adapted to be positioned. The dies II are adapted to cut peripheral threads in a pipe or rod I2 which engages (the two .dies. The stock I0 is of conventional "construction and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed tubular handles I3 and I4.

lAtthepresent time, in the use of the stock I0 it is the 'practice,'at substantially each complete revolution of the stock, for the operator to apply a small quantity of lubricant or cutting fluid onto .the periphery of the pipe I2 so as to assist in cleanly cutting of the threads by the dies II.

In order to provide a means whereby th cutting fluid or lubricant may be automatically ejected onto the work I2 as the dies II progress along the length of the work I2, the tubular han- 'dle' I4 is constructed in the form of a fluid reservoir being provided at its outer end with a plug I5 having a gasket I6 interposed between the outer portion of the plug I5 and the outer end of the reservoir or tubular handle I4. The reservoir I4 is adapted to be substantially filled with 'a lubricant or cutting fluid and in order to provide means whereby this fluid may be periodically and forcibly ejected through the stock I0 and between the two die II onto the periphery -of the work I2, I have provided a fluid ejecting means, generally designated as II, which is mounted in the inner end of the reservoir I4. Thev reservoir I4 is provided with peripheral threads I8 at its inner end which are threaded into a threaded opening I9 formed in the stock The fluid ejecting means I! comprises a body '20 which is threaded as at 2I into the inner end of the reservoir I4. The body 20 is formed with an axial bore or cylinder 22 which opens upwardly into the interior of the reservoir I4. The reduced diameter guide sleeve 23 extends inwardly from the body 20 and provides a guidevmeans for a fluid ejecting plunger or piston 24 which is slidable in theguide 23 and in the bore 22. The plunger or piston 24 is formed of a cylindrical rod which has a longitudinally extending cut-out in one side thereof within which the set screw or plunger limiting member 26 is adapted to loosely engage. The limiting member 26 is formed of a small screw which is threaded into the body 29 and which has the head thereof counter-sunk in a recess 21 formed in the body 29. The plunger 24 is also provided in the periphery thereof with a longitudinally extending flat face 28 which extends from opposite ends of the cutout 25 and which forms a fluid passage so that the fluid from the reservoir I4 may readily flow through the guide 23 into the cutout 25' and then past the lower portion of the flat pore tion 28 into the fluid ejecting chamber 29 which is formed as a part of the member 29 below the inner end of the plunger or piston 24. The inner with respect to each other and positioned closely adjacent the opposite ends of the rod 41. In practice there are three of these guide members 49 and 59 which are adapted to loosely or slidably engage the inner surface of the reservoir I4 and thereby hold the operator 4'! concentrically of the reservoir or handle I4.

In the use and operation of this lubricator the handle I4 is filled with a suitable lubricating or cutting fluid by removing the filler plug I5 and inserting the fluid into the handle or reservoir I4 from the outer or upper end thereof. The

, spring 3|, about the plunger 24, is of such strength that it will normally hold the plunger 24 in an inoperative position which is the position shown in Figure 2. When the reservoir I'4 end of the plunger or piston 24 is provided with I an enlarged flat head 39 and a plunger retracting spring 3 I engages about the plunger 24 and about the guide 23, the spring 3| bearing, at its inner end, against the head 39 and at the opposite end against the inner end of the body 29.

The body 29, inwardly from the fluid ejecting chamber 29, is provided with a reduced bore 32 and a spring pressed conical valve 33 is adapted to normally seat against the inner end of the reduced bore 32 as at 34. The valve member 32 is slidable in a bushing 35 which is threaded as at 35 in the inner end of the body 29 and the bushing 35 is formed with an enlarged chamber 31 within which the conical valve member 33 loosely engages. The valve member 33 is provided with an axial stem 38 which is slidable in a reduced bore 39 formed in the bushing 35 and a substantially light spring 49 is mounted in the reduced bore 39 and bears at its inner end against the valve head 33 so as to constantly urge the valve head or member 33 to a closed position on theseat 34. The bushing 35, at its lower end, is formed with a nut head M which engages in an annular recess 42 formed in the outer or lower end of the body 29, The nut member 4| is provided with a fluid passage 43 which is co-axial with the bore 39 and preferably a reduced fluid passage 44 is formed between the outer end of the bore 39 and the inner end of the bore 43. A tubular fluid conducting member 45 is fixed in any suitable manner to the bushing 35, being soldered or welded to the nut member M and this fluid conducting pipe or member 45 is adapted to extend through an opening 46 formed in the stock I 0 so that the free end of the pipe or fluid conducting member 45 is disposed in a position adjacent the work I2 and between the two die members I I.

In order to provide a means whereby the plunger 24 may be periodically and automatically operated to a fluid ejecting position upon rotation of the stock I9, I have provided a plunger operating member, generally designated as 46, which is slidable within the reservoir I4. The plunger operating member 46 is constructed in the form of an elongated round rod 41 having a reduced or conical lower end 48 which is adapted to impact against the head 39. The rod 41 is substantially shorter in length than the length of the reservoir I4 so that when the reservoir I4 is in a vertical position the rod 41 will gravitatingly move downwardly into engagement with the plunger head 39. The rod 41 is held substantially centrally or axially of the reservoir I4 by means of a plurality of radially arranged veins or guide members 49 and 50. The guide members .49 and 59 are disposed in spaced-apart relation is filled the fluid will flow past the plunger 24 along the flat surface 28 thereof, and into the fluid ejecting chamber 29. When the handle I4 is rotated and assumes a substantially vertical position, the plunger operator 46 will drop downwardly until it strikes the head 39. At this time the plunger 24 will be given an inward movement which will force the liquid in the chamber 29 past the valve 33. The force of the liquid moved by the plunger 24 will unseat the valve 33 so that the liquid will flow past the valve 33 and into the liquid conducting member 45. The conducting member 45 will conduct the liquid to the desired point with respect to the work I2.

In this manner the plunger or ejector 24 will be moved to a fluid ejecting position at each revolution of the die stock I9 so that the work I2 will have a small quantity of lubricant or cutting fluid forced thereonto at each revolution of the die stock I9 and the handle or reservoir I 4. In practice, the reservoir or handle I4 may be of the same size as the handle I3, being formed of a short length of pipe similar to the tubular or hollow handles at present in use on die stocks of this type.

By providing a fluid ejecting means as hereinbefore described, th fluid will not leak out of the reservoir I4 if the handle or reservoir I4 is left in a vertical position as after the initial impact of the operator 46 with the plunger head 39 the spring 3| will return the plunger 24 to an innermost position and relieve the valve member 33 from any fluid pressure so that the spring 49 may hold the valve member 33 in a closed position.

The provision of the spring 3I about the plunger 24 serves not only as a means for returning the plunger 24 to its inoperative position, but also as a means for forming a partial vacuum in the fluid ejecting chamber 29 so that the fluid in the reservoir I4 will be drawn into the chamber 29 along the fiat surface 25 of the plunger 24,

While the lubricator heretofore described has been shown applied to a threading stock and die structure, this lubricator may also form a part of a pipe cutter. Where desired or considered necessary two or more handles may be formed with this lubricator, it being understood that the showing of only one handle as a lubricator is merely an illustration of the application of one of such devices to a stock and die structure.

What I claim is:

1. In a stock and die structure including a pair of radial operating handles, one of said handles being hollow and constituting a fluid reservoir, a valved body in the inner end of said one handle, said body including a normally closed springpressed valve, a fluid receiving chamber in said body inwardly of said valve, a plunger slidably carried by said body and movable into said chamber for ejecting the fluid therefrom, said plunger having a flat longitudinal face coacting with the wall of said chamber for providing a fluid passage communicating with said reservoir and said chamber, spring means normally urging said plunger outwardly of said chamber with a portion of said plunger projecting into said reservoir, said plunger also having a peripheral cutout, a threaded member carried by said body and engaging in said cutout to thereby limit the movement of said plunger under the action of said spring means, and gravity operated means slidable in said reservoir and engageable with said plunger to move said plunger inwardly of said chamber when said one handle is in a substantially vertical upper position for forcing a quantity of fluid past said valve.

2. In a stock and die structure including a pair of radial operating handles, one of said handles being hollow and constituting a fluid reservoir, a valved body in the inner end of said one handle, said body including a normally closed springpressed valve, a fluid receiving chamber in said body inwardly of said valve, a plunger slidably carried by said body and movable into said chamber for ejecting the fluid therefrom, said plunger having a flat longitudinal face coacting with the wall of said chamber for providing a fluid passage communicating with said reservoir and said chamber, spring means normally urging said plunger outwardly of said chamber with a portion of said plunger projecting into said reservoir, said plunger also having a peripheral cutout, a threaded member carried by said body and engaging in said cutout to thereby limit the movement of said plunger under the action of said spring means, a plunger operating rod loose in said one handle, and means fixedly carried by said rod slidably engageable with the inner surface of said one handle for holding said rod coaxial with said one handle, said rod moving downwardly to a plunger engaging position when said one handle is in a substantially vertically disposed uppermost position for forcing a quantity of fluid past said valve.

3. In a stock and die structure including a pair of radial operating handles, one of said handles being hollow and constituting a fluid reservoir, a filling plug in the outer end of said one handle, a valved body in the inner end of said one handle including an outwardly closing spring-pressed valve, a fluid receiving chamber carried by said body, a plunger slidable in said chamber and projecting from said body into said reservoir, an impact head carried by said plunger and disposed in said reservoir, a spring about said plunger engaging said body and said head for urging said plunger outwardly of said chamber, said plunger having a flat longitudinal face coacting with the wall of said chamber for providing a fluid passage communicating with said reservoir and said chamber, said plunger also having a peripheral cutout, a threaded member carried by said body and engaging in said outout to thereby limit the movement of said plunger under the action of said spring, and a plunger operator slidable in said reservoir and engageable with said head when said one handle is in a substantially vertical upper position to thereby force said plunger inwardly of said chamber and eject the fluid in the latter past said valve.

4. In a stock and die structure including a pair of radial operating handles, one of said handles being hollow and constituting a fluid reservoir, a filling plug in the outer end of said one handle, a valved body in the inner end of said one handle including an outwardly closing spring-pressed valve, a fluid receiving chamber carried by said body, a plunger slidable in said chamber and projecting from said body into said reservoir, an impact head carried by said plunger and disposed in said reservoir, a spring about said plunger engaging said body and said head for urging said plunger outwardly of said chamber, said plunger having a flat longitudinal face coacting with the wall of said chamber for providing a fluid passage communicating with said reservoir and said chamber, said plunger also having a peripheral cutout, a threaded member carried by said body and engaging in said cutout to thereby limit the movement of said plunger under the action of said spring, a plunger operator slidable in said reservoir and engageable with said head when said one handle is in a substantially vertical upper position to thereby force said plunger inwardly of said chamber and eject the fluid in the latter past said valve, and tubular fluid conducting means connected with said body for conducting the fluid to the work.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a combined stock die handle and work lubricator structure, said structure comprising a tubular member constituting a die handle and a fluid reservoir, a filler plug at the outer end of said member, means at the inner end of said member for attaching the latter to the stock, a valved body carried by the inner end of said member including a fluid receiving chamber, a fluid conductingofi means leading from said chamber, an inwardly opening normally closed spring pressed lengthwise slidable valve interposed in said means and a spring controlled plunger slidable in said chamber and having a portion extending into said reservoir, said plunger being formed lengthwise of its periphery with a flat facet and circumferentially of its periphery with a cutout intersecting said facet intermediate the ends of the latter, said facet coacting with the Wall of said cham-- ber for providing a fluid conducting passage communicating with said reservoir and chamber, means carried by said body and coacting with said cutout for limiting the extent of the movement of said plunger due to the action of the plungers controlling spring, and a gravity operated plunger operator slidable in said reservoir and engageable with said portion of said plunger for operating the latter when said member is in a substantially vertical position with said plug uppermost to thereby provide for ejecting fluid past said valve into the fluid conducting-of! means.

JESSE R. HAEFFNER. 

